The EU's foreign policy chief called Israel’s move to freeze the transfer of Palestinian tax revenues a violation of the Oslo Accords, urging the nation to renew the payments. She advised both sides to refrain from steps that might escalate the situation.

“The decision of the Israeli government to halt the transfer
of tax revenues to the Palestinian Authority runs counter to
Israel’s obligations under the Paris Protocol (the economic part
of the Oslo Accords),” the EU’s high representative for
foreign affairs, Federica Mogherini, said in a statement
published on Tuesday.

The EU official was referring to a part of the set of agreements
between the Israeli government and the Palestine Liberation
Organization aimed at achieving a peace treaty between the sides.
The Protocol on Economic Relations was signed in Paris in 1994 as
part of the Gaza–Jericho Agreement, and has since been applied to
all the Palestinian Territories within the Oslo II deal.

Mogherini pointed out that “an effective Palestinian
Authority, committed to non-violence and a peaceful resolution of
the conflict” is central for a two-state solution. “Both
sides should refrain from taking actions which could raise
obstacles to the rapid return to the negotiations.”

She further stressed that Europe has been providing support to
the Palestinians, warning that its efforts should not be
jeopardized by failing to transfer the tax revenue funds.

“EU is providing considerable support, including financial
assistance, to ensure the building of the institutions and
infrastructure of a future Palestinian State. These achievements
should not be put at risk by not meeting obligations regarding
the timely and transparent transfer of tax and custom
revenues.”

The official’s statement made no mention of Palestinian President
Mahmoud Abbas signing the Rome Statute – the founding treaty to
join the International Criminal Court (ICC) – as part of the
recent Palestinian bid to join the ICC at The Hague.

France also spoke out on Tuesday, trying to prevent the situation
from escalating, following a statement by Abbas that he will
resubmit a resolution to the UN Security Council for the creation
of a Palestinian state.

“We are against the logic of letting this spiral [out of
control],” Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius told reporters.
“While we think the Palestinians have the right to move the
status quo, at the same time there has to be an effort to find a
consensus solution. Once you set this cycle off, you get results
that you don’t want one way or another.”

Israel’s move to freeze the transfer of tax revenues to the
Palestinian Authority was also criticized by the US on Monday.

“We conveyed to the Israelis that freezing the tax revenues
is an action that raises tensions,” US State Department
Spokesperson Jen Psaki told reporters. “We oppose to any
actions that raise tensions and we call on both sides to avoid
it.”